Licence-built
Encyclopedia
The term licence-built refers to an object (e.g. a vehicle or engine) manufactured by one organisation with the authorisation of the organisation that owns the intellectual property
of the design. For example a country with a less developed aerospace industry may enter into an agreement allowing it to licence-build aircraft designed in another country.
The designing organisation typically provides assistance to the manufacturing organisation (the licencee) - e.g. by providing design records, staff and training. It typically receives royalty payments. Where the components needed to assemble a vehicle are supplied this is sometimes known as a knock-down kit.
For the licencee the advantages, compared with buying fully built, include providing local employment and technology transfer
. In some cases the original manufacturer may have insuffient production capacity to satisfy demand. The costs of transport and tax may also be reduced.
The licencee may modify the design (e.g. for local conditions) and assign a local name. If permitted by the licence, they may export or even sub-licence production.
Building under a licence contrasts with unauthorised copying (e.g. using reverse engineering
or theft of the design
).
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
of the design. For example a country with a less developed aerospace industry may enter into an agreement allowing it to licence-build aircraft designed in another country.
The designing organisation typically provides assistance to the manufacturing organisation (the licencee) - e.g. by providing design records, staff and training. It typically receives royalty payments. Where the components needed to assemble a vehicle are supplied this is sometimes known as a knock-down kit.
For the licencee the advantages, compared with buying fully built, include providing local employment and technology transfer
Technology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
. In some cases the original manufacturer may have insuffient production capacity to satisfy demand. The costs of transport and tax may also be reduced.
The licencee may modify the design (e.g. for local conditions) and assign a local name. If permitted by the licence, they may export or even sub-licence production.
Building under a licence contrasts with unauthorised copying (e.g. using reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
or theft of the design
Industrial espionage
Industrial espionage, economic espionage or corporate espionage is a form of espionage conducted for commercial purposes instead of purely national security purposes...
).
Examples
Items that have been licence-built include:- The British CanberraEnglish Electric CanberraThe English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
aircraft design was developed by the United States into the Martin B-57 Canberra. - The Anglo-French JaguarSEPECAT JaguarThe SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
aircraft was licence-built in India under the local name Shamsher. - The General Electric T58General Electric T58|-See also:-References:* and...
aero-engine was licence-built in the United Kingdom by de Havilland (later Rolls-Royce) as the GnomeRolls-Royce Gnome|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:*...
and sub-licenced to Alfa-Romeo. - The American Sikorsky S-61Sikorsky S-61The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the successful SH-3 Sea King helicopter. They are two of the most widely used airliner and oil rig support helicopters built.-Design and development:...
helicopter was one of several Sikorksy designs licence-built, with differences, in the United Kingdom by Westland as the Westland Sea KingWestland Sea KingThe Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
. - The British Vickers VigilantVickers VigilantThe Vickers Vigilant was a British MCLOS wire guided anti-tank missile used by the British Army. It was licence-built for the US Marine Corps by Clevite in the USA.-History:...
missile was licence-built in the USA. - The British Leander class frigateLeander class frigateThe Leander class, or Type 12I frigates, comprising twenty-six vessels, was among the most numerous and long-lived classes of frigate in the Royal Navy's modern history. The class was built in three batches between 1959 and 1973...
was licence-built in Australia as the River classRiver class destroyer escortThe River class was a class of six destroyer escorts operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes...
. - The British de Havilland DH.50 aircraft was licence-built in Australia, Belgium and Czechoslovakia.
- The Soviet Ilyushin Il-28Ilyushin Il-28The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force. It was the USSR's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. Total production in the USSR was 6,316...
aircraft was licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. - The German Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen BeetleThe Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
was assembled under licence in several countries. - Part of the American "Routechief" waste collection vehicleWaste collection vehicleGarbage truck refers to a truck specially designed to collect small quantities of waste and haul the collected waste to a solid waste treatment facility. Other common names for this type of truck include trash truck and dump truck in the United States, and bin wagon, dustcart, dustbin lorry, bin...
was licence-built in the United Kingdom by Shelvoke and DrewryShelvoke and DrewryShelvoke & Drewry was a British manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles, now defunct. It was best known for its innovative waste collection vehicles, which were once the preferred choice of municipal authorities in the UK...
.